We kick off the continuation of Audiosurf Song of the Week-series with the Swedish, post-hardcore act, Cult of Luna. Today is the European release date (July 16 for America) for their fifth studio album, Eternal Kingdom, and so it seems fitting to recommend a song to surf along to, and let your mind and emotions just slip away…
The song “Dim” on their fourth effort, Somewhere Along the Highway, is perhaps their softest song to date, and is a journey well worth taking. A track off of the latest album has not been deciphered yet and approved Audiosurf material; it seems like the songs are not as fitting as they are on the other albums. Hit the break for more on Cult of Luna, song recommendations and similar artists. Cult of Luna evolved from the Swedish hardcore scene in the late 90’s, and has transformed its sound into a mellowing sound wall, full of substance and style. Since their 2004 Salvation, the band sought more and more critical acclaim that eventually earned them a Swedish Grammy for Somewhere Along the Highway, in 2006.
What makes this type of music gratifying to surf to is its dynamic pace and constant build-ups which pay off with great “hills” and steep, red slopes that sends you down a roller coaster to awesomeness. Even though you might find it repetitive, you have to let this kind of music take you along and accept its path of build-ups and crescendos. On Somewhere…, “Finland”, “Thirty-Four” and “Dim” certainly stand out as great Audiosurf material. On Salvation, tracks like “Vague Illusions”, “Leave Me Here“, “Waiting For You” and “Adrift” all come visually alive; a fidelity of colors that represent the correct stages of the music.
For every action there’s a re-action, and in the music world that is pretty much the rule when it comes to album releases. Eternal Kingdom sees the band take a heavier tone and, though it pains me to say, it apes melodic themes from Neurosis, instead of making it heavy like their first two albums, 1999’s self-titles debut and 2002’s The Beyond. Those albums are relentlessly heavy and builds a wall of sonic wonder that would blast any metal head off his/her seat. With the melodic and conceptual turn of Salvation and Somewhere…, the band opt for a cleaner sound. That sound remains on Eternal…, but, as I said, the melodic themes are reminiscent of Neurosis’ psychotic, mind-crunching nuances, rather than Somewhere’s emotional heart aches of melodies.
If you do enjoy the sound, be sure to check out Isis, Red Sparrows and Neurosis.
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One Ping to “Audiosurf Song Of The Week”
One Response to “Audiosurf Song Of The Week”
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1. Will Snizek Says:
June 18th, 2008 at 12:53 amgood choice Jesper.. you always give me good ideas of what I need to add to my iPizzle
July 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
[...] this iteration of Audiosurf Song Of The Week, we present to you a challenge. In the same vein as Cult Of Luna, Isis makes dynamic audio landscapes that translates beautifully in Audiosurf. If you have the [...]